Words of Wisdom

Article 3 (Finances): Patience is a Virtue

The Get Rich Quick Scheme

Do a quick search for “get rich quick” and you will find years of reading material at your disposal. At Amazon.com there are more than 1,000 books for sale on the topic. A search on Yahoo will reveal in excess of 46 million pages on the topic. Google it and you will have access to 881,000,000 pages of information dealing with the subject. This vast amount of information on the topic is revealing; it does not just mean that people have access to this information, but that they are looking for it. In the world today there are about 7.6 billion people and counting. Of those there are only about 2,200 billionaires and just over 36 million millionaires. In other words, this is less than one half of one percent of the population. With all that available information, and the huge amount of people looking at it, why is the earth not abounding with more wealthy people? The simple truth is that it just does not work. Granted, there are people who have gotten rich quickly through winning the lottery, by signing a huge contract for a professional sports team, or by creating a startup business that grows by leaps and bounds within the first year. The truth is, this is not going to happen for most people. Here is a look at the percentages of people who have gotten wealthy through these avenues.

NBA Players

If you have what it takes to become one of the best basketball players in the world, you can certainly become rich by signing that first contract. Players such as Stephen Curry and Chris Paul can command upwards of $40 million per year. However, most players do not make that much. The average salary in the NBA is roughly $6.2 million (2016-17 season). When you consider that there are only about 450 players playing professional basketball, you will soon realize that the vast majority of people in the world have a “nil to none” chance of getting there.

NFL Players

Although the average salary in the National Football League (a “paltry” $2 million) in no way compares to that of the NBA, it is possible to make upwards of $20 million or more per year if you are a star player. Unfortunately, just like in the NBA, getting into the league is extremely difficult. There are only just over 1,600 players in the league, and only about 250 or so get drafted each year. The likelihood of high school football player making it to the NFL is about 0.2% (source).

Actors

If you really want to garner significant wealth in a relatively short time, then becoming an actor should be your goal. A-list actors can make as much as $239 million in a year. That can, however, be easier said than done. If you tried naming all the actors who rake in millions on a regular basis, you would run out of actors before you ran out of fingers. (That may be an exaggeration, but I think you get the point). According to the Hollywood Reporter, members in the SAG have an average salary of $52,000.

Lottery Winners

Winning millions in a lottery is the dream of many. Unfortunately, there are a couple downfalls to winning the lottery. First of all your chances of winning at all are indeed slim. Every lottery is different, but regardless of which one you purchase a ticket for, your chances or winning are usually somewhere in the neighborhood of 1 in millions. Even if you win, in many cases you will be splitting the winnings with several other winners. Another downfall to winning the lottery is the fact that most people just simply cannot handle the windfall. Lottery winners are more likely to declare bankruptcy within three to five years than the average American. And not only that, but many winners struggle with suicide, depression and divorce (source). lottery cash course

So although it is possible to get rich quick, it is indeed a very rare occasion. For regular Joes like most of us, we should concentrate our efforts on getting out of debt and obtaining financial freedom with the realization that it will probably be a long term endeavor. When you think about it, just about anything in life that is worth its salt, usually is that thing which takes a long time to obtain.

If It’s Worth Having; It’s Worth the Wait

If you have ever read many blogs or articles on investing, one thing common to all of them is the idea that when you invest, you should invest for the longterm. Do not invest your money expecting to be rich within the first year.

“Buying and holding shares of great companies is the best way to predictably generate wealth over the long term.” says The Motley Fool.

According to Investor Place, “More often than not, the more you trade, the worse you end up doing.”

“If you aren’t willing to own a stock for 10 years, don’t even think about owning it for ten minutes.” Warren Buffet

While I agree with these statements based on my own experiences, I will not focus on these ideas in this post. I want to put more thought into another idea that is the heart of building wealth: work and the time involved. When we work, not only are we building our wealth through income, we are also gaining a little bit of that virtue called patience each day as we slowly increase our worth through labor. Following are a few stories, quips, and advice that I believe will accurately show the value of hard work.

In my personal opinion, and experience, we as humans will always value and appreciate what we have if we have had to wait for it as opposed to having it simply dropped into our laps. How often do we see toys and games discarded the day after Christmas, never to be played with again? When we have had to spend time, work, and money on something, we tend to appreciate it more. There is something about working for something that causes us to place more value on it. Growing up I received many games and toys for birthdays and Christmases. Honestly, I cannot remember any of them.

boy mowing grass cash course One thing I can remember from my childhood was my first lawnmower. I was about nine or ten years old at the time; my brother was a couple years older. We had decided we wanted to spend our summer making money by mowing lawns. We had two problems though: we had no mower, and no money to buy one. Seeing our predicament, our dad offered to loan us the money with the understanding that the first $80 we made would go to him (the price of the mower). Even though we would have probably wanted to spend our first “paycheck” on candy or toys, we dutifully put those things off and used the first 8 lawns to pay back the loan. Even though we had to wait to be able to use any of the lawn mowing money to buy what we wanted, the feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction we got from buying our own mower was way more than any feeling the candy and toys could have given us had my dad just given us the mower. That little green mower with the Briggs & Stratton engine will always hold a place in my heart. Do not ask me to describe any of the toys I got as gifts; I have no idea.

This type of gratification does not come just from working and saving up for something, it can also come from instances where you make something yourself, as opposed to buying something ready-made. In an article on psychologytoday.com there is an article that talks about what some psychologists call the IKEA effect. In it the author discusses research by Mike Norton et. al. that states that “the act of building something, putting your own blood and sweat into a physical object, seems to imbue it with additional value above and beyond its inherent quality.” He goes on to say that in experiments where people put something together on their own (i.e. IKEA furniture) or made something themselves such as origami figures, they tended to put a much higher value on their items than did people who simply saw the finished project. He finishes the article by saying “saving yourself the labor could just cost you some happiness”.

A few years ago a friend approached me with a problem he was struggling with. His son, who was 5 years old, was about to start kindergarten. My friend had recently bought a new house in a fairly well off neighborhood. On the first day of school, all the other children showed up to school wearing expensive name brand shoes. His son came home that afternoon and told his dad that he wanted shoes like the other boys had. Now, my friend had grown up bring closer to poor than rich. He knew what it was like to eat beans and rice; he had spent summers without shoes. He had experienced a life where two sets of clothes (one for play, and one for school) was plenty. Even though he had done well for himself, he could still remember doing without as a child, and he was leery of spending exorbitant amounts of money for a child’s shoes. It was not that he was unable to afford them, but he would have felt guilty about it. He wanted to do it for his son, but he could not bring himself to do it. He asked me my opinion, and here is the advice I gave him, and it is the same advice I would give to anybody with the same question.

This is a great opportunity to teach the boy a valuable lesson. Take him to the shoe boy picking up trash cash course store and pick out two pairs of shoes: one inexpensive pair, and one expensive brand name shoe. Tell him he has a choice of which pair to get. If he picks the cheaper pair, he gets them for free. Dad pays for them at no cost to the boy. However, if he wants to get the expensive pair, he must work for them. If he decides he definitely wants the expensive shoes, then take him home and give him a plastic bag. Then father and son go outside and walk down the street picking up trash. When the bag is full he can put it in the dumpster, and now the job is done. He has paid for his own shoes with a little bit of sweat and elbow grease. Not only has the boy learned a valuable lesson about the value of a dollar, and a little bit about what it means to work, but father and son also get to spend some quality time away from the television and cell phones. Not to mention the fact that their city is a little bit cleaner. The lesson, though, can be extended. When the boy has outgrown the shoes, he can give them to another boy who needs shoes but cannot afford them.

When it comes to waiting and working for happiness, money is no different. You will always appreciate the money that you have had to work for as opposed to that which was handed to you. There have been times in my life where I was in debt, and was getting behind on my bills and payments. During these times I have had friends who were well off, or had acquired a fairly large sum of money. Maybe they had inherited it, maybe they had gotten a bonus at work, or maybe they had found something of great value in their attic and had sold it for a fairly large sum. I would think during these situations about how nice it would be if I could be given a large amount of money in this manner. It never happened. I would also secretly hope that one of my friends would notice my “poverty” and give me a little bit of their gains. They never did. These situations were some of the best things that ever happened (or did not happen) to me. When I finally saw that the world was not going to serve up money to me on a golden platter, I realized that if I was ever going to get my finances in order that I would have to do it myself. Even though it has taken me some time to get out of debt, the feeling I have now is much more invigorating than if I had just been given the money.

He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.
Proverbs 10:4-5Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase. Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
Proverbs 13:11-12

Other articles on finance can be read at CashCourse.blog or CashCourse.info.

Article 1 (Finances): You are Unique

Focus on What Works For You

Often, a person’s first instinct when reading articles dealing with finances, creating a budget, getting out of debt, and so on, is to immediately find ways that it will not work for them. The reader often laments that there are too many negatives in their life to be able to effectively implement the strategies listed. (i.e. I make minimum wage, I don’t have a college degree, I live in a certain area that limits my ability to find a good job, etc.). While many arguments used against having the ability to gain financial freedom may sound like just a bunch of excuses given by people who simply do not want to make the effort required to get out of debt, these may in fact actually be real reasons that are holding them back even though they do want to succeed financially. The persistent problem here is that we find something that does not work, and then we assume that means there is nothing that will work. We feel we are doomed to a life of debt and poverty. While it is true that one strategy one person uses to become financially independent may not work for someone else, that does not mean that none of them will work. Instead of focusing on what will not work for us, we need to concentrate on those techniques that will help us, and then implement those into our lives.

Find What Works For You

A few years ago when I was in financial straits, and saw no course of action to get out of debt, I began reading everything I could find to teach myself how to get to a point in my life where I would not always be wondering where I would get the money to pay all my bills. I did not enjoy holding two or three bills in my hand wondering which one I would pay this month, and which two to hold off until next month hoping that they would not cut off my utilities, or that I would not have a wreck since I would be driving without insurance for the next month. As I began to read, I realized that there were some very simple things that I could start doing, or quit doing, that would help my financial situation. However, as I read these books, magazines, web articles and the like I realized that there were some strategies that some of the authors used that simply would not work for me; instead of giving up, though, I began to concentrate on those things that would work for me and did not worry about the rest.

Fix It With What Works For You

We are all unique individuals with unique lives, situations, goals, and abilities. What works for one person may not work for you; what one person uses to improve their personal financial situation may need to be tweaked a bit before you can use it. Something you need to realize is that different things can affect your need for money, your ability to procure it, and your ability to maintain it. Your age, gender, marital status, location, education, job, and many other factors play into how you should approach your finances. What is important to remember though, is that regardless of your situation, there is a way to fix it and make sure it stays that way.

Finish With What Works For You

In the pages of this blog I will set forth the strategies that I have used to get out of debt, and what I am doing to maintain my financial freedom. Again, I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to keep in mind that you and I are different; what works for me may not necessarily work for you, but reading these pages should help you find something that will work for you, even if it has to be changed up somewhat. So keep in mind as you read, these strategies and techniques I put forth are not ways of telling you what you should do in order to accomplish your goals, but rather these are what I used to meet my goals, and you can use these as an outline to develop your own strategies to help you get out of debt, and stay out of debt. Continue to CashCourse.info to read Article 2: Paying Others First.

Article 2 (Finances): Paying Others First

Should You Pay Yourself First?

As I read most articles and blogs about personal finance and getting them in order, I notice that they all tend to have a common element: pay yourself first. The premise is that the first thing you should do is take out a certain percentage of your paycheck each time you receive one and automatically deposit that money into a savings account. The idea is that if you take it out first and then pay your bills you will get yourself into the habit of saving and investing. While I understand the reasoning behind this idea, I tend to disagree with it in practice. In the following paragraphs I will lay out where my money goes first, and why.

Should You Pay Others First?

I follow a “pay others first” protocol. In other words, I make my first payments to my church and to other charitable entities, and then I invest, and then I pay my bills. As I said in a previous article, this is what I have found works for me. I believe it will work for you too, but this is a decision you must make yourself. In the following paragraphs I’ll explain the reasoning behind my strategy.

Why I Tithe

As a Christian, I believe it is not just my duty, but also a privilege to tithe. The bible specifically lays out the guidelines for tithing.

Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
Malachi 3:8

Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
I Corinthians 16:1-2

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
II Corinthians 9:6-7

I have heard many financial counselors berate the idea of tithing. They theorize that if you are in debt and cannot afford to pay your bills, then you should stop giving money to a church and use that extra money to get out of debt. While I can understand their reasoning from a human point of view, I cannot agree based on personal experience. On a couple of occasions I have made the mistake of paying my bills before I paid my tithe. In each instance I have had difficulties financially. Whenever I pay my tithes first and regularly, I have never had any problems paying my bills. In addition, I have found I always feel better when I have given because I know what my church uses the tithe money for (helping out those in need, using it to pay the expenses of visiting those in hospitals and nursing homes, and giving to other churches who also pass it on to those who are in need). When I am feeling good about helping others, then all areas of my life tend to level out and run smoothly.

Not Everyone Goes to Church

I am fully aware that everyone does not attend church. This can pose a couple different problems: one, a person who does not have a home church may not know which one to give to, or two, they may not want to give to any church at all. These are conundrums I understand. If a person is unable or unwilling to give money to a church, then my suggestion would be to give to some other charitable organization. You will be benefiting those in need, and you will feel good about having done something worthwhile with your money. Here is a link to the Forbes list of the 100 largest charities in the U.S. Please note, I am not recommending or endorsing any of these charities; this list is simply for reference only. I would encourage you to do your own research before donating any money to any charitable organization.

What if it is a Scam?

Many times I have heard people say they do not give to churches, charitable organizations, or poor people in general because they have experienced, or at least heard of a scam involving a specific, or even multiple organizations. I am all too aware of money scams involving those who are supposedly in need, or with organizations who are using the money for their own financial gain as opposed to taking care of those who truly need it. I will share a couple stories where I have had personal experience with financial scams or irresponsible behavior when dealing with the finances of an individual or a charitable organization. Then I will explain what I do.

In My Own Experience

A few years ago while visiting Germany, a friend and I were enjoying a morning coffee at McDonald’s. As we set at an outside table enjoying the fresh air and our java (do people still say that?) a little girl in raggedy clothes and with dirt covering most of her person came up to our table. She held out her hands and with a tear in her eye she asked me, “Eine Mark für Milch?” (One German mark for some milk?) Feeling sorry for her, I reached into my pocket and handed her one German mark. Expecting her to bounce into Mcdonald’s, D-Mark in hand, to purchase her little box of milk, I was quite surprised to see her instead turn and begin to trot down the street in the opposite direction. I was somewhat taken aback. I concluded that maybe she was going to go to a small store nearby where she could perhaps get some milk at a cheaper price. As I watched her, though, she also bypassed that store and continued on down the street. Curiosity got the better of me, so I followed her down the road. When she got to the end of the street, she turned the corner to where a certain religious group (some might call it a cult) was dancing, singing and collecting donations. The child made her way over to a woman; I assume it was her mother as the resemblance was quite striking, and dropped the coin into her hand. The woman patted her on the head, and sent her on her way. The little girl once again trotted down the street to an unsuspecting tourist and begged, “Eine Mark für Milch?” Needless to say, I gave no more “Marks for milk” that day.

Growing up in a small rural town in Southwest Texas, I never experienced the sight of beggars or homeless people asking for alms on the street. My first experience was with the little German girl sometime in my early twenties. Since then, I have traveled extensively-visiting 14 countries on four continents, in all four hemispheres. In my travels I have encountered numerous people on the streets begging for money. Often it is just someone sitting on the side of the road hoping for passersby to drop a coin into their hat, at other times people have come up to me, even following me down the road begging for some money. A few years ago, while visiting Beijing, I had a little girl who actually wrapped her arms and legs around mine and would not let go, even though I continued walking down the street. I had probably walked about 10-12 yards down the sidewalk before her mother finally called her back.

Something else that I have noticed as I travel, is that regardless of the country I am in, all the homeless people seem to have a couple things in common. As they lay on the sidewalk on a piece of cardboard or old rags, cap or box laid out in front of them to collect money from the generous, they all have the same two things in possession: a smart phone in one hand (usually one more expensive than the one I carry), and a cigarette in the other. My first reaction, of course, is to think that if they can afford a smart phone and cigarettes, then they can afford food. They do not need my help. Do to these and other experiences, I stopped giving money to people on the streets. I had come across so many who were obviously not in need, that I had become calloused to the sight of the poor. Why, I asked myself, should I give my hard-earned money to people who, as it can readily be seen, do not need it. I felt like it was my money, and I should be able to do what I want with it. Giving it to people who are simply too lazy to get a job is not what I desire to do with my money. Then I read something that changed my mind. Now I have started giving again. In the following paragraphs I will explain the reason for my change of heart.

A Change of Heart

A few years ago I decided to start reading one chapter of Proverbs each day. By doing this one can read through the whole book 12 times in one year. I have since read the whole book of Proverbs 77 times. What I have noticed as I have been doing this on a daily basis is that things that I have already read, even many times, seem to become fresh and new each time I read them. Things that never stood out before, now seem to jump out from the pages and hit me in the face. One thing that really began to chastise me were all the verses in Proverbs dealing with the poor, and how I as a Christian should treat them. Verse after verse encourages and even demands that we give to the poor, and condemns those who do not.

There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

Proverbs 11:24-25

He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
Proverbs 14:31

He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
Proverbs 19:17

He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
Proverbs 22:9

He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
Proverbs 28:27

One of my biggest stumbling blocks in giving to those who were asking for money on the streets was my doubts as to whether or not they were really in need. I had heard stories of several “beggars” who were in fact neither homeless nor poor. They would sit on the street corner begging for money, then at the end of the day they would go to a public restroom, change into their regular clothes, and then get into an expensive car and drive home to a very nice house. Examples can be seen here. I had heard other stories where people who were perfectly capable of working, but were simply too lazy, would sit on a street corner duping good-willed people into funding their slothfulness. I soon became disallusioned to the idea of helping people. Why waste my money on people who were abusing my generosity? Then another bible verse came to mind.

Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
Matthew 7:1-2

I realize that these verses have been used and abused over the years. People take them out of context, or use only one part in order to get it to say what they want it to say. Since this is not a discourse on the meaning of these verses, I’ll simply make two statements regarding them, and then move on to applying them to a particular area of my life. When someone does something wrong, and you state that what they are doing is wrong, that is not judging, that is simply stating a fact. Judging is when you determine someone’s guilt when you do not have all the facts. This is what I was doing when I stopped giving to the poor. By no longer giving to them, I was stating that they were not truly in need. They were people, who for whatever reason, were in the market of stealing from me and others by their deceptive lifestyle. The problem was, I usually had only seen them that one specific time. I knew nothing about them. I was making a conjecture based simply on the situation that I was focusing on at the time. I was judging them based on what I could readily see at the moment. In truth, I really knew nothing about them. I did not know their background, I knew nothing about the situation that put them where they are, and I certainly had no idea what they were doing themselves at the moment to get out of their current situation.

The verses in Matthew forced me to realize that what I needed to do was focus on myself and what I was doing, not on what others are doing. Are some of them lying and scamming themselves to riches? Maybe, but that is none of my business. My only business is to make sure I am doing what I should be doing, and not worrying about others.

Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is thatto thee? follow thou me.
John 21:20-22

The way I should look at is this: if they are truly poor, and I give to them, then God will bless me, and help them; if they are not truly poor, but I give to them anyway, then God will bless me and judge them. Judging them is God’s prerogative; not mine. If they are really destitute and I refuse to help them, then God will judge me, and bless them. My responsibility is to make sure I am doing what I am required to do and not worry about others. And that is why I have had a change of heart. Other articles by this author can be read at CashCourse.

This author also has featured articles on

and

When is it Acceptable to Correct Others?

This is an ongoing post; as I have time to add to it I will sit down and type a line here and there. Hopefully the tidbits I have written so far will be helpful to some. As I occasionally append this posting I hope that this extra information will be even more helpful and engaging than the last.

Giving Advice Usually Does Not Work

Quite often, as humans, we tend to offer what we consider constructive criticism to those in our vicinity when we observe them engaging in activity (what they are doing, saying, or believing) which we perceive to be incongruent with our accepted ideals. More often than not, the outcome of our actions is not what we expected. Usually, what we witness as the result of our interference is anger and mistrust, and not a change as we hoped. As the saying goes: unsolicited advice (or pearls of wisdom ad nauseam) is unsolicited for a reason.

Why do People Insist on Offering Unwanted Advice?

So why do people so readily give advice that has not been requested when it is all too well known that most will not heed the suggestions anyway? I believe there are three reasons that people offer unwanted advice:

They are truly trying to help.

In the world we all meet others who have varying degrees of abilities, riches and intelligence. Some better than us; some not quite so good. Take me for example. I like to write. My skills as a writer may not be the worst in the world, but it is painfully obvious that I am no John Irving. In the areas of finance, I think I probably sit comfortably somewhere in between Warren Buffet and the poorest man in the world. I am not the dumbest man in the world (at least I hope not), but I am not Christopher Langan either. I think that most people who read this, and nearly all those we encounter in our daily lives would more than likely be seated comfortably next to us; right here in the middle of all that constitutes our lives. The moral here is that no matter who you are, what you are, or what you do, there will always be two sides to this coin we call life: people that can help you, and people that you can help.

Just as you might find in any situation; you have some who have no desire to assist those around them, regardless of the circumstances, then you have those who will have an unwavering desire to help others no matter the cost. We are all different, and thus we manifest our ability to help others in various ways. Some people give money, some give of their time, some lend their skills, and others proffer advice. Regardless of the sincerity of those who are offering their knowledge to those who seem to be misguided in their direction, they have unfortunately been blessed with a gift that has taken a bad rap over the years.

My advice to those who are gifted in bestowing wisdom on others: be forthcoming in giving it to those who ask, but practice restraint when they do not. If you have presented yourself in a manner that conveys honesty, intuitiveness and amicability, then one day when that person who needs help comes to the realization that they need it and they want it, they will search you out. On the other hand, to those who have received unwanted advice: do not letter anger be your first reaction. The person giving you advice just might be sincere in their gift, and the advice they are offering may be just what you need at that moment. If you shut them out now, then later when you really need them, they may not be there.

They are seeking compliments on their wisdom.

On occasion one runs across someone who makes it a habit to share a bit of newfound knowledge in an effort to draw praise from their listeners. They are not interested in strengthening anybody. Whether you heed their advice or not is irrelevant; just listen and exclaim how smart they are. Most commonly this advice they are passing off is unwanted, annoying, and can even sometimes be completely useless. In many cases the person offering their advice is not really qualified to give it. They have simply recently read a 2 page pamphlet on a particular subject, and now they feel they are an expert in the area. In this case it is simply best to thank them for their advice, let them know you will think about what they said, and then get back to the important things in your life.

They see themselves as better than others in a certain area.

Many people in this world, for one reason or another, have convinced themselves that they are above those around them. It may not necessarily be in all areas, but simply in one particular area. In a lot of situations this is because the person in question has realized that they needed to make some changes in their lives. Now that they have accomplished this feat, they tend to look down on those who are still embroiled in the same habitual lifestyle in which they, not too long ago, were also wallowing. They take every opportunity to let you know that what you are doing is wrong, and how much better they are than you because they had the wherewithal to overcome. It does not matter whether one has quit smoking, drinking, doing drugs, robbing banks, or any other form of corruption; we all need to remember that we were once partakers of the same, and lest we forget, we could just as easily wind up in the same place again. Paul put it succinctly when he wrote: And such were some of you.

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. I Corinthians 6:9-11

When is Giving Advice Acceptable, and Thus Genuinely Helpful?

When we are in direct authority over someone.

Parents

Teachers

Pastors

Bosses

When we are in indirect authority over someone.

Teachers

Pastors

Authors

Lecturers

When someone asks for advice.

When giving an answer to someone who has asked you for advice, or your opinion on a topic, it is best to keep in mind that not everyone asking for advice is really seeking it. In my experiences I have learned to not immediately answer other’s queries regarding my take on a particular subject. I have grown to know that people ask for advice for one of three reasons. There may be more than that, but these are the most common in my dealings.

People ask for your opinion in order to start an argument.
People ask for your opinion hoping you will confirm their belief.
People ask for your opinion because they are genuinely looking for an answer.

Articles on finance by this author can be read at the website Cash Course.

Introduction (Finances): Steps to Getting Out of Debt

The amount of articles available about how to gain financial freedom are innumerable. Regardless of the author, the time, or the platform, they all tend to put forth the same ideas about how the reader can attain financial freedom. The basic tenants they all propose can be summed up in a few basic ideas: have a budget, establish an emergency fund (preferably 3 months worth), live within your means, put money into a savings account weekly, invest your money (make your money work for you), have insurance, cut up all your credit cards, and so on.

Oftentimes these articles are followed up by comments detailing how that plan will never work for the average reader. A budget, you say? You cannot budget zero. An emergency fund, and three months at that? Most are still paying for things they purchased three years ago. Living within your means is easier said than done, especially when you have multiple children to feed, clothe, and educate. Most people are spending all their income on basic needs; finding extra to sock away into a savings account is something they do not see as being possible. Many often comment that they make minimum wage and have barely enough to buy food and other basic necessities, much less be able to afford to invest. Who can afford insurance? Most are living day to day just hoping not to get sick or injured. If it were not for credit cards, there would not be any way to get the necessities while waiting for the next paycheck.

While it may seem nearly impossible, if not completely impossible, to get your finances in order, rest assured that it is something that can be attained. A few years ago this author was also struggling financially. Today, things are quite different. In the pages of this blog, several ways will be introduced that you can implement into your financial life that will help get you on the road to financial security. The first step is to refrain from automatically saying that it can never be done. If from the beginning you convince yourself that you will never be stable in regards to money, then you never will be. Approach this problem with a willing and positive attitude. It will take some work, and it definitely will not be easy, but it can be done. Continue to Article 1: Your are Unique at CashCourse.info.

This article also published on

Expensive Weddings Are a Waste of Money

It’s About You; Not the Guests

One of the largest expenses a couple will incur is also their first: a lavish wedding that most people really cannot afford. While it may seem like a good way to celebrate the marriage, it is in reality a display of pride and arrogance. At a time when the emphasis should be on what the future husband and wife plan on doing for each other, it now becomes a ritualistic display of what they can do to impress others. Since this gaudy display is put on for the benefit of the guests and not the couple, the audience becomes the focal point, and the bride and groom are relegated to the backseat. When a couple spends an exorbitant amount of money on their wedding, they run the risk of starting their marriage out so far in debt that it is nearly impossible to dig themselves out. This in turn leads to financial difficulties that can haunt them for many years. Consequently, if the situation isn’t corrected early (which in most cases it isn’t) the end result is often divorce, which in itself leads to more financial problems.

It’s About You; Not the Parents

In a story detailed on the Reuters website, a young 24 year old Rafi Kazimi fell to pressure from friends and family when he married his fiancée Farima, 20, by spending $10,000 on their wedding. After paying back only $4,000 of the loan to the bank, Rafi lost his job. Now he, his wife, and several other family members must rely on his older brother’s salary of $410 a month; $300 of which goes to pay the bank loan.

“It was too much,” Kazimi said of the money spent on his marriage to his first cousin. “I was so worried about how to find this money. Her parents didn’t care if I had the money or not, they just said we must have a big wedding.” (Nichols, 2011)

A good rule of thumb to always follow is to never let other people tell you how to spend your money. Perhaps if they are so concerned with you having something, then maybe they should pay for it.

It’s About You; Not the Wedding Industry

In her book One Perfect Day: The Selling of the American Wedding, Rebecca Mead explains how those in the wedding industry encourage couples to spend outrageous sums of money; convincing them that this is the norm in today’s society. They encourage them to dole out large amounts of time and money on a day that passes just like all others; never encouraging them to nurture those things that will give them the gift of an enduring marriage. While many will say that expensive weddings are a perfect way to celebrate the beginning of a new life together, it is really more akin to a sports team celebrating a championship before the season begins. Perhaps instead of spending outlandish amounts of money on the wedding, the big lavish celebration should instead be held on a couple’s 50^thwedding anniversary.

References

Nichols, M. (2011, January). Afghan government plans extravagant wedding ban. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-weddings/afghan-government- plans-extravagant-wedding-ban-idUSTRE7040Z520110105

The Folly of Science

Often whenever I ask anyone if they believe in God or not, I usually get one of three answers: yes, no, or I don’t know. From those who say no, I usually get one of these three answers: I believe in science, I believe in mankind, or I believe in myself. These answers, of course, get me to pondering.

Although not completely sure, I would venture to guess that when they say science, they don’t just mean chemistry, biology, and such, but rather they also include such things as technology, math, discoveries, and so on that have made our lives better. Therefore, in the next few sentences, when I say science, I will also include these other disciplines in my interpretation.

It is doubtful that anyone would contest the reality of science being an ameliorating part of our lives. Without a doubt, it has made grade strides, especially in the last two centuries, in enriching our lives. Science has not only made it possible for us to live longer lives, but it has also allowed us to live healthier and more enriched lives than ever before. Because of science we now have airplanes that can fly us all around the world in record breaking time, cars that (almost) drive themselves, and trains that get us from city to city in relative comfort and ease. Doctors are discovering new medicines and eradicating once devastating diseases. Computers are advancing ever more quickly, making our lives easier and more interesting. Through the contributions of science we are now able to produce more food than ever before. The list could go on and on, but before we get ahead of ourselves, we must stop and take a quick look at the vileness on the other side of the coin, for not only has science succeeded in improving our lives, it has also contributed to a darker side. For science has brought us discoveries that are far more devastating to mankind than the good things are endearing to us.

Through science we have discovered how to make weapons that are more powerful and more deadly than anything we have ever seen or could have imagined. Because of science we have guns, bombs, missiles, planes, tanks, and countless other elements that we use to utterly slaughter each other on a regular basis. Science has allowed us to create things that may seem benign at first sight, but when we take a deeper look, we find that these things which we believe are improving our lives, are actually slowly destroying us, whether it be mentally, physically, or spiritually. We have access to instant foods, imitation ingredients, super disease resistant vegetables, and more that are slowly destroying our bodies. More and more toys and games are becoming increasingly more digitized leading to a decrease in the creativity and imagination of our youth.

This is not to say that science is bad. On the contrary. Science is neither good nor bad; it is, rather, neutral. Science has many positive attributes, many still untapped, but whether those assets are used for right or wrong is solely up to the person who makes use of them. Science is just like anything else that we have gotten our hands on: guns, cars, books, and so on; good people will use them for good, bad people will use them for evil. So even though this might be considered one of the follies of science, i.e. its inimitable use for evil, this is not the folly I wish to dwell on, but rather this: its mortality.

It is without a doubt that science has granted us the power to live longer, healthier, and perhaps happier lives, but it has one giant flaw (and the same could be said for mankind and self), it is only good as long as you are alive. Once you take that last breath and step into eternity, neither science, nor mankind, nor yourself can do anything for you. Whether you believe that Methuselah was the longest living human being ever at 969 years, or that it was Jeanne Calment who was reported to have lived to be 122 years and 164 days, it is inconceivable that anyone would ever disagree with the argument that no matter how long you live, you will in time have been dead longer than you were alive. So by all means make use of science while you are here, but once you reach that distant plateau where science is no longer viable, make sure you have something that is.

Read more articles at Stephen’s “Academic Essays” Blog.

Arguments: How to Avoid Them

Most arguments start and end because both parties come to the table with a disagreement, and with absolutely no desire to change, even if they are proven wrong. Settling an argument can best be settled if those involved begin the argument by first agreeing on a couple of aspects that will put them on the same page from the beginning. Following is a basic outline which can be used to solve almost any argument.

State what the problem is. (In most cases, both parties involved will agree here.)
State the desired result. (Again, both parties should still be in agreement.)
State your actions taken to resolve the issue. (Here is where the disagreements will begin. In this situation, both involved should state the actions they are taking to resolve the problem without insinuating superiority, and without condemning the other’s solution. This isn’t the time to begin arguing, it is simply the time to put both solutions on the table for all to observe.)
State the reasons why you have chosen to take these actions to solve the problem. (Again, this is not the time to begin arguing. Now is the time to hold your argument up to scrutiny, and to also to see the other’s point of view as to why they have chosen the method they are using to solve the problem. In many cases, when you verbally express your reasoning for taking specific actions, you may be surprised at how foolish it sounds. Also, when you hear the other person’s justification, it may sound inexplicably reasonable to you.)

Read more articles by Stephen Moore at “Academic Essays“.

The Journey Begins

Occasionally in my life I learn something that helps me as I struggle through this journey. In these pages I hope to pass a little of this wisdom I have gained on to you, the reader. Enjoy and grow. My academic articles can be read here.

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton